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Cocktail dress and jacket
Dessès, Jean, born 1904 - died 1970 - Enlarge image
Cocktail dress and jacket
- Place of origin:
Paris (made)
- Date:
1951 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Dessès, Jean, born 1904 - died 1970 (designer)
- Materials and Techniques:
Silk, silk organza and velvet ribbon, pleated
- Credit Line:
Worn and given by HRH Princess Margaret
- Museum number:
T.237&A-1986
- Gallery location:
In Storage
The overlapping, curved pleats formed into scalloped panels on this bodice front suggest a stylised rendition of receding waves, an impression further enhanced by the deep sea-blue of the fine, slightly stiff, silk fabric. The controlled movement on the curved, fitted bodice is achieved by the dextrous pleating of fabric cut on the bias, fronted with no visible seams.
The scalloped pleating encloses the front torso up to the low, strapless décolletage, and continues across the back in straight, horizontal lines. The bodice fits the figure tightly to the hips and from there the skirt falls in long, soft pleats.
